Monthly Archives: November 2021

GRATITUDE is a Way of Life

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November 23, 2021
Last week the POINT Interfaith Team hosted a beautiful Interfaith Thanksgiving Service with the theme: “Gratitude for Those Who Came Before Us: Standing on Their Shoulders.” It was inspiring to hear the many faith speakers share how their ancestral leaders paved the way for them to be and live here today. This Thanksgiving let us remember who paved the way for us; our ancestors, parents, grandparents, other family members, and friends etc. Every person, and event in our lives prepared us and molded us into WHO we are today. There are no accidents, only Divine Purpose to elevate, expand and enlighten our consciousness as spiritual beings.
When we sit down with family, friends, or a welcomed stranger this Thanksgiving, let us give thanks for them and for so many others such as;
  • Farmers who planted and harvested the crops.
  • Deliverers who brought the food to the stores for us to buy.
  • Workers who organize the stores and help us at the check out.
  • Everyone who makes our lives easier; the construction workers, electricians, engineers, delivery people, waste pickup people, teachers, medical staff, Holistic practitioners, faith leaders and many more.
Perhaps in your quiet prayer time you could write down all those who came before you and those who are keeping your life comfortable today. Send them love, gratitude and see them as Light Workers whose shoulders you stand on.
We have so much to be grateful for and GRATITUDE needs to be an everyday attitude and activity. The November ‘Daily Word’ Magazine said, ” I don’t need to wait for a special day to give thanks. Gratitude is a way of life, a commitment I make to find the good in all situations…”
Have a Wonderful Thanksgiving and every day of the year!

BREATHE…Just BREATHE

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Dear Friends,

Breathe…… Just Breathe

Breathing is our very life. It is what keeps us here on earth. It is the very breath of God flowing in us, as us, and through us. Breathing is an automatic way to keep us alive and well. Breathing is also a way to be mindful in all situations. There are times when we are with people who irritate us, push our buttons or are just unkind. In those moments, if we are mindful of our breath, we can slow it down. For as we slow our breath down, inhaling and exhaling deeply, we also notice our body responding. Our body becomes more relaxed, calm and in control.

I was reminded of my breath recently when I felt irritated towards someone and had to just breathe quietly and peacefully. I allowed my body to become undisturbed by the events knowing I would be guided to respond in the highest way possible. Another time, when someone almost made me feel small and unwelcome, I breathed. When the person realized how sharp tongued she was, she apologized. We all have these moments when we need to allow ourselves
to step back and breath deeply, quietly, serenely and purposefully.
We not only help ourselves, we help others retain a sense of dignity and a realization of their actions.

Breathing is our essence. When meditating we breath slowly, and consciously to help us reach that INNER SPACE where we tune in with God, Spirit, the essence of our ONEness.

One of my favorite songs by Marcy Baruch is “Inner Space.” I love listening to it in the car going to and from places. It settles me into my own inner space where there is only peace and love. Here are the words and link to the video. Marcy is singing at a Unity Center.

PREVIEW 4:59 Marcy Baruch – This Inner Space
This Inner Space
Words and Music by Marcy Baruch
“This inner space has the pow’r to set me free, it’s the cavern of creation and the truth of you and me.
This inner space, an eternity of time, It’s the moment of the holy now and the Allness that is mine.
This inner space contains all that I need, from deep within the invisible flows the living air I breathe.
This inner space is flowing in my bones, it stirs my heart, it stirs my mind, and ev’ry pray’r I’ve ever known.
And, I say breathe, just breathe, now breathe, this peace.
This inner space is the ocean of your soul, and when you feel most broken the truth is, you are whole.
This inner space, connects us one to all, and though it would never push you,
it will break down ev’ry wall.
And, I say breathe, just breathe, now breathe, this peace.
This inner space invites us to renew, in all my endless choosing I become the chosen too.
This inner space, it never knows a past, in a quiet place you can hear it and it might just make you laugh.
So, I say breathe, just breathe, now breathe, this peace of this inner space.”

Breathe….. Just Breathe

Who Is Your Teacher Today?

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Dear Friends,

Who is your teacher today?
I was reading an article by Peter Bolan in the ‘Unity Magazine’ where a huge COYOTE appeared behind his house one morning. His dog set off the alarm with loud barks and growls. Peter saw a healthy coyote outside his back fence. There is high chaparral and a lake beyond. Peter lives in the San Diego area like Steve and I do, so I can relate. We hear coyotes howling late at night or early in the morning. We often see them running across our street since our house backs up to hills and valleys. As Peter watched the coyote he asked himself questions.
“What would it be like to be free from plans, desires?
What would it feel like not to have to make excuses?
What would it feel like to live in harmony with current conditions rather than wanting things to be different?…
Great teachers don’t tell you what to think. They help you ask
better questions.”

Everyday we have a chance to meet our animal and nature teachers. When we are open and receptive we have a teachable moment and mindset. When we start looking for teachers, we find them everywhere. On my walks, TREES are my teachers. They grow sturdy, yet flexible so as to bend and sway with the wind, instead of being blown down or breaking every time a storm brews. How flexible are you in these current times? Are you flexible with the flow, or are you digging your feet in the ground? Can you keep growing in your faith, yet be flexible and “Open at the top,” as Ernest Holmes writes?
In the morning I often hear BIRDS. Their sweet little souls create the most beautiful songs. I know it is a way for them to communicate with each other and I also believe they sing for pure delight and pleasure. Their singing reminds me to do the things I love to do. My question is, are you doing what you love to do, or are you doing what you think you should do?

I was reading the book, Medicine Cards, the Discovery of Power Through the Ways of Animals. Here are a few beautiful teachers.
TURTLE – ” Turtle buries its thoughts, like its eggs in the sand and allows the sun to hatch the little ones. This teacher is asking you to develop your ideas before bringing them out in the light.” Are you trying to develop something that has not been fully thought out?

BUTTERFLY – “It is the mind, and the ability to know the mind or to change it. It is the never-ending cycle of self-transformation.
Egg stage: Is this a thought, idea?
Larva stage: Is it time to make a decision?
Cocoon stage: Am I developing my idea to make
it a reality?
Birth/Butterfly stage: Am I sharing my completed idea?”

RABBIT – “The rabbit tends to be skittish and fearful. What are you fearful of? Stop talking about horrible things, and the ‘what ifs’. Write them down if you need to and breathe into them and then give them away.”
Ernest Holmes said, “Let go of fears into the nothingness from which they came.”

FROG – “Seeing a frog may remind you to describe your condition. Are you tired, overloaded, frustrated, guilty, nervous, at a loss? Time to take a break and bathe in a long relaxing bath, disconnect the phone, and take in deep cleansing breaths… Replenish your spirit, body and mind.”

HUMMINGBIRD – “Sings a vibration of pure joy. Plants and flowers live because of Hummingbird. Life is a wonderland of delight – darting from one beautiful flower to another, tasting the essences and radiating the colors.” If you see a Hummer, ask yourself, am I bringing joy and delight to others? Am I bringing out the BEST in others. Am I journeying to my highest ideal?

Teachers come in all forms, human, animal, nature and the Divine Voice within. Listen, be aware and mindful of the natural signs of wisdom.
We are here to learn. Life is our best teacher.

Who are your teachers today? Be open at the top, be receptive and discover joy and happiness, love and delight in all you do.

Open and Teachable,
Abigail and Steve